Portable, disposable mixing container system



June 25, 1968 T. J. ARcuRl PORTABLE, DISPOSABLIE MTXING CONTAINER SYST med Maren s1. 19s? 2 Sheets-Sheet l rcurz' Inz/enzor.' Thomas @IW 6W Q/wfww/ 9* .n n ...l lillllllll T. J. ARcuRl 3,389,893

PORTABLE, DISPOSABLE MIXING CONTAINER SYSTEM June 25, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 24 Filed March 31, 196'? United States Patent 3,389,893 PORTABLE, DISPOSABLE MIXING CONTAINER SYSTEM Thomas J. Arcuri, 2646 S. Oak Park Ave., Berwyn, Ill. 60402 Filed Mar. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 628,238 10 Claims. (Cl. 259-146) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for mixing liquid and a dry particulate material, such as concrete mix, especially adapted for smaller projects of the type often performed by a homeowner. A hollow pipe is partially inserted into a box containing a measured amount of the dry material. Water is then added to the dry material in a measured amount through the hollow pipe. The pipe is then pushed through the opposite side of the material container, and the contents are mixed by rotating the container about the hollow pipe axle. Alternatively, the mix container with the inserted pipe may be placed into a frustoconical container and the frustoconical container may be rolled on its side to mix the ingredients. Finally, the hollow pipe is removed and the mixed ingredients allowed to flow through the opening left by the withdrawn pipe.

Background of the invention This invention relates generally to portable, disposable containers for mixing materials such as concrete and the like, and more particularly to a new and improved disposable container and method for mixing materials such as concrete, plaster and mortar.

Frequently, there arises a need for building or construction materials on a relatively small scale, for example, in the home for purposes of repair or do-it-yourself projects. Although such materials are available in small amounts for homeowners projects and the like, the task of any homeowner is complicated by the need for various mixing tools, containers and the like. Moreover, many householders are completely deterred from home projects by the foreboding and wearisome tasks of mixing the materials, cleaning the tools, and cleaning the mixing container or wheelbarrow of hardened materials after the job is completed. Manifestly, these factors have `impeded the development of the potential market for concrete, plaster, mortar and the like in small amounts for home repair projects.

Summary of the invention In a principal aspect, the present invention comprises a portable, disposable mixing container system wherein first, a measured amount of water is introduced through a hollow pipe inserted partially into a dry material container which contains a measured amount of the dry material such as concrete mix or the like. Next the hollow pipe is inserted through `both sides of the container to form an axle about which the material container is then rotated to mix the contents. Alternatively, the material container with its hollow pipe axle may be wedged into a frustoconical container with the hollow pipe axle substantially coincident with the axis of the frustoconical container such that when the frustoconical container is rolled on its side the contents of the material container are fully mixed. Withdrawing the hollow pipe from the materialv or mix container allows the mixed contents to ow out of the mix container as desired. Optionally, the hollow pipe may be withdrawn and reinserted through the mix container Wall to create a larger opening through which the mixed contents may ow.

3,389,893 Patented June 25, 1968 Accordingly, it is a .general object of this invention to provide new and improved container means for mixing dry materials with uids in a relatively effortless and clean fashion.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved disposable container of cubical form for storing desired amounts of dry material therein and adapted to be rotated after fluid is added to the dry material for efficiently mixing the dry material and flu-id to place them in usable condition.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel, portable, disposable mixing container system which serves the funct-ion of storing a premixed product in dry form, of mixing the product with uid by rotation and disposing the unwanted remainder of the mix after the job is completed, all in a clean fashion and without the need for any additional mixing tools or mixing containers.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel mixing container which may be utilized to store a predetermined amount of dry material prior to mixing and which may be rolled, after duid is added, to eiiciently prepuare the mix for use.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a mixing container which is formed of a relatively inexpensive material, such as moisture-resistant cardboard, to ena-ble said container to `serve as a disposable mixing container which economically may be thrown away after the mix is used, thereby eliminating the prior art problem of cleaning the mixing tools and mixing container.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rotatable, mixing container adapted to rotate about a hollow pipe axis inserted therethrough, or adapted to rotate within a frustoconical container into which the mixing container is inserted.

The above and other novel objects and features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings n thereof, will best be understood by reference to Ithe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a cross-sectional view illustrating the initial steps of the method of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional View illustrating the next ste-ps of the method;

FIGURE 3 is a plan View of FIGURE 2 substantially along the line 3 3;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View illustrating a ethod of mixing the liquid and dry particulate material;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an alternative method of mixing;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating distribution of the mixed ingredients after mixing;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the piercing end of an embodiment of the hollow tube;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 7 substantially along the line 8-8;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of an alternative construction of the piercing end of the hollow tube;

FIGURE l0 is a plan view of the frustoconical container before assembly; and

FIGURE ll is an end View of the container in FIG- URE l0.

Description of the preferred embodiment As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the rectangularly sided box container 12 is lled with a measured amount of dry mix or material 14. Preferably, the dry mix 14 which is comprised, for example, of appropriate amounts of sand, gravel and cement is measured into the box 12, and the box 12 with its dry contents is then sealed to prevent moisture from penetrating the box and damaging or ruining the utility of the contents. The box 12 is constructed of paper, iiberboard, sheet metal or the like; however, a water-proof tiberboard or cardboard construction is preferred since the box 12 is disposable as well as moisture-proof.

The volume of the box 12 is greater than the cornbined volume of the dry materials 14 plus the required mixing water since the ingredients slosh against the box walls during mixing thereby implementing thorough and quick mixing. Therefore, the dry mix 14 only partially fills the box 12. The total weight of dry mix 14 in a box 12 is preferably limited since excessive amounts of material are difficult to handle and carry by a single person. Uniform dry material package sizes, for example, 25, 50 and 100 pound sizes, are considered the most cornmercially practical. Preferably the dry mix is packaged at a central or factory site, and the containers of mix are shipped for sale or for use at construction sites.

The box 12 has a hub plate 20 positioned substantially at the center of the top side 22 of the box 12 and a second hub 21 positioned substantially at the center of the bottom side 23 of the box 12. The hub plates are preferably of a pierceable, strong plastic material such as polyethylene. The hub plates and 21 act as a guide for the hollow pipe 24 as will be more fully described later, and as re-enforcement for the walls intersected by the pipe 24.

After the box 12 is filled with the dry mix 14 and taken to a construction site, it is temporarily placed on a support box 16 and a frustoconical container 18 is wedged against the sides of the frustoconical container 18 and the bottom side or part 23 of the box 12 is wedged or held into position by wedges or flaps 28 extending inwardly from the side of the frustoconical container. The aps 28 are pressed or punched out of the sidewall of the container 18 as are the handholes 25, and their wedge shape permits the flaps 28 to securely hold in position various sizes of mix containing boxes 12. The frustoconical container is preferably formed of a heavy gauge sheet metal such that the frustoconical container may be reused many times for mixing many boxes 12 of dry materials 14.

After the frustoconical container 18 is wedged on the box 12, the combined containers are turned over to the position shown in FIGURE 2. Alternatively the box 12 may be left in the same position as shown in FIGURE l and the following steps completed. Handholes cut in opposite sides of the frustoconical container facilitate the ease of turning over the combined box 12 and the container 18 and also facilitate the handling of the system in general, especially when discharging the box 12 contents as described later.

A hollow pipe conduit 24 is then inserted through one of the hubs 21 piercing the box 12, and the mixing fluid is poured into the box 12 through the hollow pipe 24. The fluid is added in an amount appropriate for preparing the measured amount of dry ingredients 14 in the box 12.

The hollow pipe 24 is then pushed through hub 20 as shown in FIGURE 4. The ingredients are then mixed by rotating the combined containers 12 and 18 about the hollow pipe axle 24 which is supported at both ends by support means such as the pair of blocks 26. Alternatively, the frustoconical container 18 may be positioned on its side and rolled along the ground until the ingredients are fully mixed as illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The shape of the frustoconical container allows mixing of the ingredients without requiring a large area for the rolling of the container 18. This results from the shape or design of the container 18 which inherently permits the container 18 to be rolled in a circular path. The container 18 is preferably rolled in the counter-clockwise sense, as denoted by the arrow in FIGURE 3, to promote the wed-ging action of the box 12 against the wedges 28.

After the ingredients are fully mixed the hollow tube 24 may be partially withdrawn to expose the opening 27 through the hub 20 as illustrated in FIGURE 6. The mixed contents iiow out through the opening 27. To shut the ow off the pipe 24 is reinserted in the opening 27. To increase the flow of the mixed ingredients from the box 12, additional holes 29 are punctured in the bottom of the box 12 by the hollow tube 24 as further illustrated in FIGURE 6.

The FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate the piercing or leading `edge of the hollow tube 24. As shown in the crosssectional View, FIGURE 8, the leading edge of the hollow tube 24 is cut partially at a first angle with the remainder of the tube 24 being cut at a second angle. This produces a leading edge 30 which pierces or cuts the material in the hubs 2i) and 21 and the box 12 and a trailing edge 32 which acts to cut out and remove from the hubs 2t) and 21 and the box 12 a circular section of the box 12 which is equal to the inner diameter of the hollow tube 24. By twisting the tube 24 as it is inserted, the cutting action of the leading and trailing edges 30 and 32 respectively is accentuated. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIGURE 9, the hollow pipe 24 may have a pointed, sealed, piercing end 33 with openings 35 in the side of the pipe 24 to allow the water to seep into the mix.

FIGURE l() is an unassernbled frustoconical container 18 showing the wedges 28 which are die pressed or cut in the container 18. The container 18 can be cut from a flat piece of material with the handholes 25 and the wedges simultaneously cut in the same piece of material. The unassembled container 18 has interlocking folds 34 and 36 which are made to engage one another and hold the container in its useful shape. FIGURE l1 more clearly illustrates the construction of the locking folds 34 and 36. Likewise the manner in which the wedges 28 are folded out away from the walls of the container 18 is more clearly illustrated in FIGURE ll.

The mix-filled boxes 12 are disposable; however, the hollow pipe 24 and container 18 are used again and again. For this reason the container 18 and pipe 24 are constructed of a rugged material such as metal sheet. The container 18 may thus be more easily stored in its flat configuration and assembled when use is desirous.

While in the 4foregoing there has been disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that equivalents obvious to those Skilled in the art are within the scope of the claimed invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A method especially suitable for mixing relatively small amounts of liquid with a dry particulate material comprising, in combination, the steps of:

(a) sealing a measured amount of said dry material in a container having lirst and second opposing walls,

(b) inserting a hollow pipe through said rst wall into said material container,

(e) pouring a measured amount of liquid into said dry material in said material container through said hollow pipe,

(d) pushing said pipe through said second wall of said material container such that said pipe forms an axle through said material container, and

(e) rotating said material container about said pipe axle such that said dry material and said liquid are fully mixed.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of withdrawing said pipe from said second wall of said material container upon completion of mixing such that said mix is discharged from said material container through the opening in said second wall of said container created by said hollow pipe.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of withdrawing said pipe from said second Wall of said container and reinserting and rewthdrawing said pipe from said second wall of said container adjacent said original pipe insertion until an aperture is dened in Said second wall of said container which permits said material to be discharged therethrough.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein rotating said container about said pipe axle comprises the steps of (a) inserting said material container into a frustoconical container with the axis of said frustoconical container substantially parallel with said pipe axle, said rustoconical container having a continuous side surtace, a top and a bottom,

(b) placing said rustoconical container on its side surface, and

(c) rolling the combination of said container, said rustoconical container and said hollow pipe axle such that the contents of said container are thoroughly mixed.

5. A portable, disposable mixing container system especially suitable for mixing smaller amounts of dry particulate material comprising, in combination,

(a) a hollow pipe having a piercing end,

(b) a material container with means adapted to receive said hollow ,pipe such that said pipe forms an axle through said container when said piercing end of said pipe is inserted through said means adapted to receive said pipe, and

(c) support means for rotating said container substantially about said axle.

5. The combination of claim 5 wherein said support means comprise a frustoconical container having a continuous side surface, a narrow, open top end and a Wide, open bottom end with means adapted to receive said material container such that said hollow pipe when inserted through said material container lforms an axle which lies substantially parallel the axis of said frustoconical container when said material container is inserted into said frustoconical container.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said hollow pipe is a substantially straight, hollow, thin wall tube with one end cut partially therethrough at a rst angle, the remainder of said end being cut at a second angle unequal to said first angle such that Said pipe upon insertion into said material container removes a slug from said material container, said slug being substantially equal to the inside area of said hollow pipe.

8. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said material container has rectangularly shaped parallel pairs of Side Walls, and said means adapted to receive said hollow pipe comprise flexible pierceable inserts positioned substantially in the center of one pair of parallel, rectangularly shaped walls of said material container.

9. The device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means adapted to receive said material container include wedges positioned circumferentially about the bottom end of said frustoconical container such that said material container is held in a substantially non-rotatable, immovable position within said frustoconical container upon insertion of said material container into said frustoconical container.

10. The device as set forth in claim 6 including first and second handholes positioned substantially opposite one another in the side of said frustoconical container adjacent the bottom end such that said container can easily by carried.

References Cited UNiTED STATES PATENTS 859,919 7/1907 Cropp 259-15 X 1,349,285 8/1920 Lynch 259-175 2,614,064 10/1952 Carney 259-81 X 3,144,242 8/1964 Retzlaff 259-148 3,166,871 1/1965 simison 206-46 X 3,326,531 6/1967 Matheson 259-67 ROBERT W. JENKINS, Primary Examiner. 

